NAIA ITF Rankings Come Into Focus In Final Month

NEW ORLEANS — We’re just about one month away from the 2017 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee and if the National Team Computer Rankings hold, it’s looking like a sweep for Indiana Tech.

The Warriors extended their lead in the rankings in the men’s version and still hold a commanding edge in the women’s billing despite losing 35.93 points from last week.

Looking first at the men’s rankings, Indiana Tech is the overwhelming No. 1 at 553.80 points. The Warriors pushed ahead from Week 1 to Week 2 behind a strong effort by Wayne Sharbahn in the 60 (2nd, 6.76) and their 4×400 relay (1st, 3:17.54).

No. 2 Siena Heights (Mich.) and No. 3 Doane (Neb.) are incredibly close. The Huskies and Tigers are separated by 0.07 points, the closest out of any two teams in the men’s rankings this week.

Wayland Baptist (Texas) surged from No. 9 to No. 4 after gaining 83.1 points. The Pioneers were propelled forward by Leon Boyd and Tre Hinds, as the former is currently ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in the triple jump and the latter is No. 1 in the 600 and 3rd in the 800.

Five other men’s teams jumped four or more spots this week. Marian (Ind.) went from No. 26 to No. 14, St. Ambrose (Iowa) went from No. 24 to No. 15, Columbia (Mo.) went from No. 29 to No. 16, Northwestern (Iowa) went from No. 23 to No. 19 and Madonna (Mich.) went from No. 37 to No. 25.

Over in the women’s rankings, Indiana Tech and Siena Heights (Mich.) are No. 1 and No. 2, as they have been for quite some time.

Hastings (Neb.) and Doane (Neb.) swapped spots as the former went from No. 4 to No. 3 and the latter fell from No. 3 to No. 4.

Wayland Baptist (Texas) worked its way back inside the top-10 this week. The Pioneers jumped to No. 8 from No. 14 and that improvement was spurred by Telecia Briscoe’s NAIA-leading time in the 60 hurdles (8.67).

Two teams had some huge jumps from Week 1 to Week 2: Oklahoma City and St. Ambrose (Iowa). The former vaulted from No. 31 to No. 17, while the latter went from No. 37 to No. 20.

Business is picking up and should continue to do so as the season hits the home stretch. The 2017 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held March 2-4 on the campus of East Tennessee State University.